Switching between display technologies

Abstract

In currently available user equipment (UE), the significantly more number of pixels in the 4K ultra high definition (UHD) display mode demands more processing power and consumes more battery charge than the 1080p high definition (HD) display mode or the standard resolution display mode. However, in low brightness, there is no perceived difference in display image quality among very high resolution (e.g., UHD), high resolution (e.g., HD) or standard resolution display modes, when viewed by the naked human eye. In an aspect of the disclosure, a method, a computer-readable medium, and an apparatus for reducing battery drain of a UE are provided. The apparatus determines a brightness level of a display screen of the UE. The apparatus also sets a resolution mode of the display screen based on the brightness level.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of reducing battery drain of a user equipment (UE), comprising:
 determining a brightness level of a display screen of the UE; and   setting a resolution mode of the display screen based on the brightness level.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 setting the resolution mode to a first resolution mode; and   determining whether the determined brightness level is less than a first brightness threshold,   wherein the resolution mode is set to a second resolution mode when the brightness level is determined to be less than the first brightness threshold, the second resolution mode being lower than the first resolution mode.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising determining whether the determined brightness level is less than a second brightness threshold, the second brightness threshold being less than the first brightness threshold, wherein the resolution mode is set to the second resolution mode when the brightness level is determined to be less than the first brightness threshold and greater than or equal to the second brightness threshold, and the resolution mode is set to a third resolution mode when the brightness level is determined to be less than the second brightness threshold, the third resolution mode being lower than the second resolution mode. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the resolution mode is set to the first resolution mode when the brightness level is determined to be greater than or equal to the first brightness threshold. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining a battery level of a battery of the UE, wherein the resolution mode of the display screen is further set based on the battery level. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 setting the resolution mode to a first resolution mode; and   determining whether the determined battery level is less than a first battery level threshold,   wherein the resolution mode is set to a second resolution mode when the battery level is determined to be less than the first battery level threshold, the second resolution mode being lower than the first resolution mode.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising determining whether the determined battery level is less than a second battery level threshold, the second battery level threshold being less than the first battery level threshold, wherein the resolution mode is set to the second resolution mode when the battery level is determined to be less than the first battery level threshold and greater than or equal to the second battery level threshold, and the resolution mode is set to a third resolution mode when the battery level is determined to be less than the second battery level threshold, the third resolution mode being lower than the second resolution mode. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the resolution mode is set to the first resolution mode when the battery level is determined to be greater than or equal to the first battery level threshold. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining an ambient light level of a surrounding area of the UE;   comparing the determined ambient light level to an ambient light threshold; and   setting a display mode between a 2-dimensional (2D) display mode and a 3-dimensional (3D) display mode based on the comparison of the determined ambient light level to the ambient light threshold.   
     
     
         10 . A user equipment (UE) comprising:
 means for determining a brightness level of a display screen of the UE; and   means for setting a resolution mode of the display screen based on the brightness level.   
     
     
         11 . The UE of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the means for setting is further configured to set the resolution mode to a first resolution mode; and   the means for determining is further configured to determine whether the determined brightness level is less than a first brightness threshold,   wherein the resolution mode is set to a second resolution mode when the brightness level is determined to be less than the first brightness threshold, the second resolution mode being lower than the first resolution mode.   
     
     
         12 . The UE of  claim 11 , wherein the means for determining is further configured to determine whether the determined brightness level is less than a second brightness threshold, the second brightness threshold being less than the first brightness threshold, wherein the resolution mode is set to the second resolution mode when the brightness level is determined to be less than the first brightness threshold and greater than or equal to the second brightness threshold, and the resolution mode is set to a third resolution mode when the brightness level is determined to be less than the second brightness threshold, the third resolution mode being lower than the second resolution mode. 
     
     
         13 . The UE of  claim 12 , wherein the resolution mode is set to the first resolution mode when the brightness level is determined to be greater than or equal to the first brightness threshold. 
     
     
         14 . The UE of  claim 10 , wherein the means for determining is further configured to determine a battery level of a battery of the UE, wherein the resolution mode of the display screen is further set based on the battery level. 
     
     
         15 . The UE of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the means for setting is further configured to set the resolution mode to a first resolution mode; and   the means for determining is further configured to determine whether the determined battery level is less than a first battery level threshold,   wherein the resolution mode is set to a second resolution mode when the battery level is determined to be less than the first battery level threshold, the second resolution mode being lower than the first resolution mode.   
     
     
         16 . The UE of  claim 15 , wherein the means for determining is further configured to determine whether the determined battery level is less than a second battery level threshold, the second battery level threshold being less than the first battery level threshold, wherein the resolution mode is set to the second resolution mode when the battery level is determined to be less than the first battery level threshold and greater than or equal to the second battery level threshold, and the resolution mode is set to a third resolution mode when the battery level is determined to be less than the second battery level threshold, the third resolution mode being lower than the second resolution mode. 
     
     
         17 . The UE of  claim 16 , wherein the resolution mode is set to the first resolution mode when the battery level is determined to be greater than or equal to the first battery level threshold. 
     
     
         18 . The UE of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the means for determining is further configured to determine an ambient light level of a surrounding area of the UE;   means for comparing the determined ambient light level to an ambient light threshold; and   the means for setting is further configured to set a display mode between a 2-dimensional (2D) display mode and a 3-dimensional (3D) display mode based on the comparison of the determined ambient light level to the ambient light threshold.   
     
     
         19 . A user equipment (UE) comprising:
 a memory; and   at least one processor coupled to the memory and configured to:
 determine a brightness level of a display screen of the UE; and 
 set a resolution mode of the display screen based on the brightness level. 
   
     
     
         20 . The UE of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 set the resolution mode to a first resolution mode; and   determine whether the determined brightness level is less than a first brightness threshold,   wherein the resolution mode is set to a second resolution mode when the brightness level is determined to be less than the first brightness threshold, the second resolution mode being lower than the first resolution mode.   
     
     
         21 . The UE of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine whether the determined brightness level is less than a second brightness threshold, the second brightness threshold being less than the first brightness threshold, wherein the resolution mode is set to the second resolution mode when the brightness level is determined to be less than the first brightness threshold and greater than or equal to the second brightness threshold, and the resolution mode is set to a third resolution mode when the brightness level is determined to be less than the second brightness threshold, the third resolution mode being lower than the second resolution mode. 
     
     
         22 . The UE of  claim 21 , wherein the resolution mode is set to the first resolution mode when the brightness level is determined to be greater than or equal to the first brightness threshold. 
     
     
         23 . The UE of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine a battery level of a battery of the UE, wherein the resolution mode of the display screen is further set based on the battery level. 
     
     
         24 . The UE of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 set the resolution mode to a first resolution mode; and   determine whether the determined battery level is less than a first battery level threshold,   wherein the resolution mode is set to a second resolution mode when the battery level is determined to be less than the first battery level threshold, the second resolution mode being lower than the first resolution mode.   
     
     
         25 . The UE of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine whether the determined battery level is less than a second battery level threshold, the second battery level threshold being less than the first battery level threshold, wherein the resolution mode is set to the second resolution mode when the battery level is determined to be less than the first battery level threshold and greater than or equal to the second battery level threshold, and the resolution mode is set to a third resolution mode when the battery level is determined to be less than the second battery level threshold, the third resolution mode being lower than the second resolution mode. 
     
     
         26 . The UE of  claim 25 , wherein the resolution mode is set to the first resolution mode when the battery level is determined to be greater than or equal to the first battery level threshold. 
     
     
         27 . The UE of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 determine an ambient light level of a surrounding area of the UE;   compare the determined ambient light level to an ambient light threshold; and   set a display mode between a 2-dimensional (2D) display mode and a 3-dimensional (3D) display mode based on the comparison of the determined ambient light level to the ambient light threshold.   
     
     
         28 . A computer-readable medium storing computer executable code of a user equipment (UE), comprising code to:
 determine a brightness level of a display screen of the UE; and   set a resolution mode of the display screen based on the brightness level.